I ended the day on Tuesday talking with a woman in Houston about car insurance for her and her adult daughter that lives at home. Our discussion covered the typical points I need in order to provide her with a quote; names, dates of birth, year, make and model of the cars, who is she insured with now, when does her policy renew, etc. What was interesting was, she asked me why I asked my last two questions which were…
I’m asked this question on a regular basis. It usually comes up when someone’s paid off a car, their insurance is renewing and they’d like to lower their premium, they’re buying a cash car or they just have an older car. It’s an excellent question and the answer depends on two factors. Once those two factors are addressed, then it’s truly up to the client to determine what’s best for them and their financial situation, as well as what their risk they’re willing to tolerate.
Car thieves don’t always steal the whole car, sometimes it’s only a part. My son drove a Ford Probe when he was attending Lake Highlands High School. One night, the car was parked on the street in front of our house and it was broken into. I did not discover it until the next morning when I saw wires poking out from the dash where the stereo had been. It was a cheap stereo to begin with but I was angry someone had taken it and had to confront feeling violated.
Outgoing Texas Insurance Commissioner, Eleanor Kitzman, vacated her office on Monday, May 27th when Texas State Senators blocked her from another two year term. Governor Rick Perry quickly appointed Kitzman’s replacement, Julia Rathgeber who until May 27th had been Lt. Governor David Dewhurst deputy chief of staff. Prior to serving as Dewhurst’s deputy chief of staff, Rathgeber served as a Director of Research for the Texas General Land Office and also as former division head for the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission.
When I was 12, I was enthralled by a neighbor’s classic car. He’d restored a 1920’s Model A pickup and painted the body a deep green color with black fenders. The interior had been completely restored with new leather and all new wood for the bed and side rails. The rounded head lights were chromed along with the radiator, single tail light and horn. It gleamed in the light as he’d drive it around the neighborhood on the occasional weekend jaunt.
On a Sunday in February, Sheri (my wife) and I had breakfast at Cindi’s Deli in Dallas with Jordan & Christine (my son and daughter in law). The two of them were in town and this gave us some nice time together and to catch up. They presented us with a Valentine’s Day card that happened to have a picture of a sonogram showing they were expecting their first child. I was completely caught off guard but incredibly excited for them and us. This is the first Wise grandbaby and I’m thrilled!
In August of 2012, Preston Carter, a Los Angeles centenarian (he was 100 years old at the time of the accident), injured nine children and two adults when he backed his car onto a sidewalk. The injuries were serious but thankfully, no one died. Mr. Carter simply misjudged what he was doing. He thought he was turning onto a street instead of backing onto a sidewalk full of parents and children buying snacks from a sidewalk vendor. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mr. Carter had a valid driver’s license and a clean record. The LA Police Department did not file any charges but they did look into his competency to keep a driver’s license.
My youngest son, Jonathan, and his girlfriend, Olivia, were driving in the Lake Highlands areas of Dallas two weeks ago. The rain was coming down in sheets when they approached an intersection. Coming from the opposite direction, was a Jeep being driven by a high school student. He did not see Olivia and Jonathan and made an unprotected left turn in front of them. Olivia slammed on her brakes which kept her from hitting the Jeep head on or along the driver’s side. She was unable to miss the back corner and ripped his bumper off while wrinkling the hood and passenger front fender of her car. The good news is no one was hurt!
I was 14 or 15 at the time and sitting in the back seat of my dad’s 1972 Pontiac Grand Am. My two younger sisters were on the back seat with me while my youngest sister sat on my mom’s lap in the front passenger seat. No one had a car seat back then and most of us rode in our cars without buckling our seat belts.
On Wednesday, April 17, a fire broke out at the West Fertilizer Company in West, Texas, a community of 2,849 about 70 miles south of Dallas. 10 volunteer firemen and two people who joined them responded to the calls that began being fielded by the 911 call center at 7:33. As first responders, they began to assess the massive fire and plan how to begin putting out the blaze. They were killed moments later from the explosion that occurred at 7:51 pm.
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